Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama enjoyed a beer with Dakota Meyer on the patio outside the Oval Office Wednesday. The president will present Meyer with the Medal of Honor Thursday during a ceremony at the White House.

According to a series of tweets by White House spokesman Jay Carney, when a member of the president's staff called Meyer over the weekend to prepare, Meyer made a special request.
"On 9/8/09, Meyer, then a 21-year-old Marine corporal, repeatedly risked his own life to save the lives of 36 U.S. and Afghan troops," Carney tweeted. "Over the weekend, the president's staff called Meyer in preparation for Thursday's Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House."

"Meyer asked the staffer if he could have a beer with the President," Carney said.

soundoff(115 Responses)

That young man was barely old enough to even legally buy a beer when he became the hero about to be honored for his bravery! Thank you for your service, Dakota.. Enjoy that beer...

September 15, 2011 01:55 am at 1:55 am |

george of the jungle

Our prez has a lot of class and thank you Dakota.

September 15, 2011 02:03 am at 2:03 am |

Isidore Tamo

The gentleman deserves to have a beer with the president. I am glad to see that the president was able to make time for him: what a humble way to thank our troops for all their sacrifices.

September 15, 2011 02:23 am at 2:23 am |

Marry

Many people, they say, would LOVE to have beer or tea with Perry, Bachmann, Palin, etc. I agree with Mr. Dakota. To spend a few minutes with an intelligent person might be a bit more challenging but a lot more fun! Cheers!

September 15, 2011 02:26 am at 2:26 am |

Sheldon

The REAL REAL BIG man!!! This is ultimate respect for the troops..not just this one soldier.

September 15, 2011 02:27 am at 2:27 am |

A True Centrist

This is what I don't understand about the Obama administration. It is great he had the beer with Corporal Meyer, he certainly earned it with his heroic actions on the battlefield. BUT, what does Obama do...he turns the beer into a photo op, and then has the Press Secretary tweet the story for the world to know.

Sorry, that's not what you do when honoring this man. You have a private beer and offer him a private thank you before the public ceremony. There was once a time when the President wasn't such a slimy politician. This is what I would expect from a so-called "career politician"....not from someone who set out to change Washington.

September 15, 2011 03:44 am at 3:44 am |

adam

Hoist one for me.

September 15, 2011 04:48 am at 4:48 am |

ss26mar

President Obama honored those who served by granting his request - I tip my hat to him. Now if he could do his job in every other area the country might recover sometime in this decade.

September 15, 2011 05:32 am at 5:32 am |

Scott

NI matter what you think of him politically,I can't stand his politics. I still admire him taking time out to fill a veteran request to have a beer with him. Stand up thing to do.

September 15, 2011 05:43 am at 5:43 am |

enough of lies

obama we do not love you, you are not king, you are not dictator, you are not even worth the paper i wipe myself with, you are a loser and an idiot, you are targeted for failure, the Tea Party has you in the sights, so leave while you have time, No one loves you, you are a waste.

September 15, 2011 05:45 am at 5:45 am |

Ain't life strange?

Ok, right wing nut jobs... let's spew garbage on how Obama is wasting tax payers money on beer while sitting around doing nothing.

September 15, 2011 06:18 am at 6:18 am |

Marie MD

Love it!!! Kudos to Meyer for his bravery. I love it that we have young (and old) men and women like this serving our country.

September 15, 2011 06:22 am at 6:22 am |

Henry

Darn, I want to have a beer with the President too. But I am no hero, that is for sure.

September 15, 2011 07:00 am at 7:00 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

Congratulations to a TRUE American hero Corporal Meyer. May God continue to bless and protect you.
Your honor was well-earned and well-deserved.